CIAA to hold annual general meeting and convention

Members of the Canadian Independent Automotive Association (CIAA) are gearing up for their annual Convention & Industry Forum to be held Aug. 16 and 17 in Wetaskiwin, Alta.

Along with a lot of pertinent industry information from a wide range of speakers, the convention will feature a parade of vintage automobiles, including:

* A 1950 Studebaker Champion five-window Starlight Coupe Deluxe belonging to Brian and Beverly Kaltenbruner of Harold’s Auto Service in Lethbridge;

* A 1946 Plymouth Club Coupe, a 1972 Ford Mustang, a 1959 Apache pick-up from Duncan Dalzell’s Automotive in Edmonton;

* A 1969 Dodge Super Bee from Robert Sinclair’s Gateway Automotive in Calgary.

* Two (possibly three) Ford Thunderbirds (topless models) belonging to Mel and Rita Kause of Mewassin Autopro.

The event will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion, at 5003 52 Avenue in Wetaskiwin, Alberta.

Wayne Paulsen will get the day started with “The AMVIC Story.” Not only is Wayne a CIAA board member, and the president of the association’s Alberta Chapter, but he is the Alberta Chapter’s representative on the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC) board of directors. He’ll bring members up to speed on how AMVIC impacts the future of the industry and how important it is that the independent shops have a voice in shaping of that future.

Tom Simpson of Prince George will give an update on the B.C. Apprenticeship situation. Tom is a CIAA board member and president of the CIAA’s B.C. Chapter. He is also chair of the Northern B.C. Apprenticeship Sub-Committee.  Tom will detail the factors that created the critical shortage of journeyman automotive technicians graduating in B.C., how it is affecting shops across Canada and what committed independent shop owners have achieved in repairing the situation.

Larry Young of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will discuss insurance for repair shop. His “Make it Right” presentation will explain the facts about insurance brokerage, risk management and third-party claims settlement.

Neil Bronsch, of Romanovski & Associates, will share his wisdom on how to organize your business to avoid losing your hard-earned money to taxes, and how to manage your business structure should you make all the money that you intended to when you started.  This will be Neil’s third appearance at a CIAA convention.

Murray Voth will discuss “The Changing Face of the Aftermarket Client.” Murray is a TACT Implementation Coach with a deep understanding of the adaptations we all need to make in order to continue our success.

CIAA Executive Director Art Wilderman will discuss The Role of the Association in Canada. Art will share his interpretation of Canadian Technician Magazine’s recent “Next Step Survey” as it relates to our association. He’ll also discuss the kind of changes shop owners and technicians across the country seem to be looking for.

The event will close with a Question & Answer period with the speakers, and closing remarks from CIAA national president Rita Kause.

An opening reception will be held on Aug. 16, at the Best Western Wayside Inn.

A closing reception will be held at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin – an award-winning museum of mechanization featuring technological changes in transportation, from the 1890s to the present. This collection of rare, unusual and one-of-a-kind artifacts includes more than 400 cars and 5000 pieces of agricultural equipment.